SANFORD, NC (AP) -- Gov. Bev Perdue says she's never seen anything like the destruction caused by a storm system that claimed at least 21 lives statewide.

Perdue said Monday morning on NBC's "Today" show that search-and-rescue teams are still working all over the eastern part of the state. She says the storms appear to have treated homes as if they were paper doll houses.

Federal Emergency Management Agency teams will be in the state assessing damage this week. Thousands of acres of agricultural land also have been devastated. Perdue plans to talk with officials at the US Department of Agriculture about what aid might be available.

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